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KIRBY VANBURCH
Kirby VanBurch star of NBC’s World’s Greatest Magic began his magical career at age 7 in Houston, Texas, after attending a magic show. During the show the magician called for volunteers, an enthusiastic VanBurch was heart broken as the older children were called to the stage and later rewarded by the magician for their help with booklet’s claiming to contain all the magical secrets of that day’s performance. When Kirby’s mother arrived she found him in tears about the booklet he never received. To ease his fascination, Kirby mastered simple tricks. He fondly recalls, "I discovered magic as a child, a time when you still don’t know your own limitations... I’ve never let go of that."
Young VanBurch migrated to Las Vegas quickly becoming the youngest star in the famous down town "GLITTER GULCH." After creating the successful production "World of Magic" greater recognition soon followed VanBurch the featured performer in the Thirty Million-Dollar Spectacular "Jubilee" at the MGM Grand Hotel. Enchanting audiences and
management alike. Kirby was soon staring in the Reno Nevada extravaganza "HELLO HOLLYWOOD HELLO" the largest production show in the world. The Reno/Sparks Nugget Hotel recruited the master of illusion resulting in the highly successful show, "ALAKAZAAM". To celebrate the opening of the nuggets new 20- story tower, Van Burch drew national attention with a dazzling, death-defying stunt. Hoisted 20 stories in the air by a giant construction crane, Kirby was suspended up side down in foot shackles and a straight jacket, held aloft by only a flaming rope. His successful escape eclipsed even the great Houdini. This amazing "Great Escape" would later result in VanBurch being introduced in to the "Ripley’s Believe It Or Not" museum.
International acclaim soon followed and VanBurch was invited to appear through out Europe and Asia. After three royal command performances for the King of Thailand VanBurch received a personal invitation from the Royal Palace. It was there that the princess of Thailand bestowed the Royal title "Prince of Magic" upon Kirby VanBurch.
Kirby returned home to Las Vegas where he headlined at the Aladdin hotel for seven years.Then in 1992 VanBurch signed to appear at the multi- million dollar five star theatre (now renamed the Remington theatre) in Branson, Missouri. In 1993 Branson awarded the Prince Of Magic with AAMA’s most prestigious award Branson’s show of the year. VanBurch also has many beautiful exotic animals in his show. His animal family includes a spotted leopard, spotty, a black leopard Oscar, an orange bangle tiger Nugget, a new lion Merlin, as well as Branson’s most famous cat a Royal White Bengal tiger named Branson. Branson weighing in at a whopping 875 pounds isn’t the only big act in the show:
Kirby is known for his signature illusion the appearance of a bell 35 jet ranger helicopter in less than 4 seconds. This is the world’s largest, fastest illusion. Kirby VanBurch Branson’s premier magician and winner of many prestigious awards including 2001 international entertainer of the year award and 1999 international magician of the year award by the society of magicians also added the magic show of the year award by the Springfield newsleader. Kirby VanBurch has traveled the worlds 37 countries to be exact, amazing audiences with his spectacular showcase of grand illusions. Kirby met his wife Bambi in 2000, at an airport after auditioning for his show.
She started out as a dancer and then became the lead assistant before becoming the producer of the show. They were married in Key West, Florida on September 7, 2002. Both Kirby and Bambi reside in Branson with their beautiful exotic animals.
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